THE CONNECTOR A weekly publication of Harris County Department of Education for the HCDE Board of Trustees WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 VOLUME 6 ISSUE 4 LEADING THE WAY! TOP STORIES Tech-Savvy School-Based Therapists p.3 Choice Partners Co-op Promotes Through Virtual Conferences p.4 HCDE’s See the Impact Campaign in the Media p.5 ! Harris County ~ Department of www.hcde-texas.org _, ,-.7' Education Of Note... This week things began to feel a bit more normal as I made my usual beginning-of-the year campus visits. I really enjoy being able to get out and see first-hand the way our teachers work so diligently with our students to ensure they make progress towards their goals. On Tuesday I visited both AB campuses and Fortis Academy. At all sites I was able to talk with students and staff about how they are feeling being back in the building, how things are going in terms of instruction both in person and virtually and what they need to help them do their jobs even better. I also was able to see how our students and staff are adhering to our safety protocols like wearing masks, face shields and social distancing. HCDE put a lot of thought and effort into ensuring our campuses are safe for students and staff to engage in person. I am proud of the lengths to which we are going to protect everyone including the daily and weekly cleaning schedule that our facilities staff has implemented. This, along with our healthy habits and safety protocols, have created safe and productive learning environments for everyone. I started the week with my Executive Leadership Team on Monday and held several internal meetings. On Tuesday I visited our campuses and on Wednesday I helped two potential mentees with their professional development. I also said goodbye to Dr. Anthony Mays, our Senior Director of Schools, as he is moving on to be the Chief of Schools for the Austin Independent School District. I am proud of the work Dr. Mays accomplished during his three years with HCDE and know he will be very successful in this newest endeavor. On Friday we had our Special Board Meeting so Head Start can complete their grant application and submit it on time to the Department of Health and Human Services. Thank you for your flexibility in meeting to ensure we make this critical deadline. Enjoy the beautiful fall weather this weekend. SCHOOL TOURS Superintendent James Colbert Jr. checks out a feature in the sensory room at ABS West during a visit Sept. 29. Meeting with staff at Fortis Academy Looking over student progress at ABS East Taking in the new playground at ABS West www.hcde-texas.org 2 PROGRAM CONNECTIONS Tech-Savvy School-Based Therapists Support Students with Special Needs, Teachers, Parents Problem-solvers, parent-coaches, think-tankers and tech-savvy software and learning platforms, schedules and meeting parents’ are terms which describe school-based therapists as they help needs. students with physical and intellectual disabilities be successful through virtual learning. “But when you start seeing your students on the other end of the computer and how the parents participate during the session, it Harris County Department of Education School-Based Therapy gave me a sense of purpose,” Alba said. “It was an opportunity Services employs 157 physical, occupational and music for me to share my ideas with parents, problem-solve how therapists and assistant therapists who work in 32 school districts their child can participate during instructional lessons, modify and charter schools. HCDE’s team of highly trained therapists their environment, identify alternative strategies and help guide provide support for more than 7,000 students in greater Harris parents through the instructional routine.” County with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities and other challenges. Occupational therapist and HCDE manager Traci Gault “Therapy sessions are conducted in a variety of ways, depending has worked in school therapy on the individual needs of the student,” HCDE School-Based for over a decade. She agrees Therapy Services Director Carie Crabb said. “Sometimes with Alba about the pandemic therapists are attending a virtual class lesson along with the making therapists “think outside student they are supporting. At other times, the therapist is the box.” providing a virtual session with a student and their parent or caregiver.” “Therapists were able to successfully transition from As therapists continue to meet a main goal of helping students in-person learning to virtual succeed in the school setting, the biggest adjustment since learning since we use a the pandemic is with technology. Districts first struggled to get “coaching model,” Gault said. equipment to families. Therapists then had to climb a steep “Teachers and staff are shown technology learning curve themselves. and instructed in various strategies to help support “We are able to do things now that we never imagined possible students. These strategies are used by teachers and staff when before,” said Crabb. providing support to their students daily.” A student needs help with handwriting skills or with using a pair As many districts return to in-person instruction, therapists of scissors. Distraction-free home workspaces are set up to help are careful to follow strict guidelines set forth by each of those students with attention-deficit disorders. Parents are shown how districts, including social distancing, plexiglass barriers and face to use writing or typing accommodations such as text-to-speech masks. devices with their children. Manager Alba believes the feeling of being “connected” rings true HCDE manager and physical for both in-person and virtual therapy. therapist Leah Alba talks about the qualities needed to be an “If think the most difficult part about my new role as a manager excellent “tele-therapist.” in the virtual world is making sure everyone feels connected and “I think being a ‘tele-therapist,’ stays motivated,” she said. “Phone calls, emails and virtual chat one needs to be patient, are still available, but it can still be difficult to ensure everyone flexible, innovative and feels connected and supported.” resourceful,” said Alba. Crabb thinks of her staff of therapists as unsung heroes who When students began learning have a deep sense of dedication and care for the students with from home, she recalls disabilities whom they serve. challenges including computer connectivity, unfamiliarity with “These challenging times have brought to light the hard word and selfless sacrifice that they put forth every day,” she said. www.hcde-texas.org 3 PROGRAM CONNECTIONS HCDE’s Choice Partners Co-op Promotes Services, Products through Virtual Conferences Choice Partners Cooperative and HCDE participate From prepackaged lunches to personal protective annually in at least a dozen trade shows and school equipment, the show allowed virtual interaction between conferences to network with governmental entities as well vendors and customers, including chatrooms. as local, state and nationwide vendors, but COVID-19 temporarily halted those scheduled, in-person events. With more trade show exhibits at conferences on the The new norm are virtual conferences allowing for services horizon, vendors and their customers continue to practice to be promoted online. safety protocols strictly through virtual shows. Additional shows that HCDE and Choice Partners either have or will Client Engagement says the Virtual Texas Food Expo participate in include: the TAC Legislative Conference and is the perfect example of how food co-ops throughout the NIGP Conference (held in August); TASA/TASB (this Texas are collaborating to focus on the latest trends, food week); the TASBO 2020 School Operations Conference products and equipment which service school district and the Texas Municipal League (in October). cafeterias during COVID-19. Choice Partners joined the Texas Co-ops Virtual Expo 2020 “Making It Work” to put on ~ K.n!Co their annual food show. “The Choice Partners annual food show has always proven to be successful by being well attended by both members and vendors alike,” said Stephanie De Los I!] [si I!] □ .• o ..~•»• Santos, director of client engagement. “Although we miss ~ ; the dynamic in-person experience, having the opportunity =-FoodSoUorlS/Corricl to collaborate with other co-ops to network with vendors - -- and customers has been worthwhile.” k Accelevents I Exhibitor Details X + f- ➔ C i accelevents.com/e/TASATASB/portal/expo/9179 * e r. ... .... ····I e Hello. txEDCON2020 - TASA I TASB Conven. .. El r TASA I TASB Conve ntion ea J anet txEDCON2020 < ! Harris County ~ Department of • Available --- +~ Education ~ Lobby ! Harris County Harris County Department of Educat... • Main Stage ~ Department of < ,_, ,...~ Education > :: Exhibit Hall Yesterday at 3:05 .-M LaTonya Goffney A People Thank you for all you do for students in District Services Harris County! Janet Wachs [Exhibitor] ;,:i My Booth It is our pleasure to serve all the districts in the greater Houston area Please do not hesttate to contact HCDE for assistance. We are happy to work with you to help Video Company Details Offer Aldine ISO grow! www.hcde-texas.org 4 PROGRAM CONNECTIONS See the Impact Campaign HCDE’s Awareness Campaign 2020-2021 kicked off this September. Communication for “See the Impact” includes a five-second TV ad during morning, evening or nighttime newscasts on KTRK 13 as well as Google and Facebooks ads. See the 5 second ad here. Google ads In October, radio messages are added to the mix ll/llttt,,. Harris County Department of Education through KHMX 96.5 FM, KLOL 101 FM, KQBT 93.7 FM V Sponsored • 0 and KTBZ 94.5. Each of the five radio ads focuses on Every student, every open mind is an opportunity to enrich the divisions working with students: Schools, CASE for Kids, community with academic programs and se rvices.